Start outside, from the ground
The Met Office includes checking roofs and keeping drainage in mind in its winter-preparation advice. Look for obvious changes you can see safely from ground level. Do not climb onto a roof to investigate. If something looks wrong, note it and arrange appropriate professional help.
Check the route, not just the loft
Open the hatch only if you can do so safely. Does the mechanism still work as expected? Is the ladder secured and operating according to its instructions? Is the landing area below clear? An access problem is easier to deal with before you are holding a large box of decorations.
Look for changes
If the loft has a safe access and boarded route, look for new staining, damaged containers or a smell you have not noticed before. Record the location and date. You are building a useful description for a professional, not trying to diagnose a roof from one glance. Avoid disturbing insulation, wiring or unknown materials.
Give storage a quick edit
Bring down anything you need for the next season and remove things you no longer want. Keep the hatch landing area usable and avoid packing goods into places that need inspection or ventilation. Take a quick photograph of where the seasonal boxes are. Future you will appreciate it.
Make one short list
Divide what you found into access, storage and building-condition questions. An installer can help assess access and improvement options; a suspected roof defect may need a roofer or surveyor first. You do not need to order a whole new loft to ask a useful question about one thing that has changed.
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